Devanga the Deiveega Brahmins

Devanga community of a caste under Hinduism, is considered higher among the living.

List of All Devanga Subcastes

The Devanga community lacks a universally agreed-upon list of subcastes, as divisions are fluid, often overlapping with regional or occupational identities. Based on historical texts (e.g., Castes and Tribes of Southern India by Edgar Thurston), community narratives, and online sources, here’s a comprehensive list of known subcastes or subgroups:

1. Kulachaar Devanga (Shaivite, Karnataka)
2. Shivachar Devanga (Shaivite, Karnataka/Andhra Pradesh)
3. Gandoru (Early division, possibly extinct or merged)
4. Namdoru (Counterpart to Gandoru, historical)
5. Bilimagga (White loom weavers, Karnataka)
6. Atagara (Weavers and exorcists, Karnataka)
7. Sedan/Seniayan (Tamil Nadu, economical weavers)
8. Laddigars (Karnataka, specific weaving subgroup)
9. Yenthelars (Regional variant, possibly Karnataka)
10. Balilars (Ship-goers/traders, coastal Karnataka)
11. Kappelars (Trader subgroup, Karnataka)
12. Iremaneru (Unspecified, possibly Andhra Pradesh)
13. Kal Kotlars (Karnataka, weaving variant)
14. Chinnu Kotlars (Small-scale weavers, Karnataka)
15. Kanjil Kudithars (Unspecified, possibly Tamil Nadu)
16. Segunthalars (Tamil Nadu subgroup)
17. Ampukollars (Tamil Nadu, weaving variant)
18. Sevvelars (Tamil Nadu, possibly temple weavers)
19. Lingayat Devanga (Veerashaiva followers, Karnataka)
20. Vaishnavite Devanga (Historical Vaishnava sect, rare today)

This list is not exhaustive, as subcastes may emerge or fade over time, and some names (e.g., Gandoru, Namdoru) are historical or ambiguous. Linguistic groups (Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Rajasthani) often subsume these divisions, making precise classification difficult.

Marriage Rules and Restrictions

Devanga marriage customs are rooted in Hindu traditions, with specific rules influenced by their Shaivite or Vaishnavite leanings, gotra (clan) system, and community norms. Here’s who can marry whom and whom they cannot:

• Who Can Marry Whom:
  • Same Community, Different Sect: Traditionally, a Shaivite Devanga (e.g., Kulachaar) can marry a Vaishnavite Devanga, as long as they belong to different gotras. This rule, noted in older sources, ensures sectarian diversity within the marriage, though it’s less rigid today.
  • Different Subcastes, Same Gotra Rules: A Kannada Devanga can marry a Telugu Devanga or a Tamil Devanga Chettiar, provided their gotras differ. For example, a Kulachaar Devanga (gotra: Koundinya) could marry a Shivachar Devanga (gotra: Bharadwaja).
  • Inter-Regional Marriages: With modernization, Marathi-speaking Devangas from Pandharpur or Rajasthani Devangs can marry South Indian Devangas, as long as gotra and family approval align. This is increasingly common in the diaspora (e.g., USA).
  • Vegetarian/Non-Vegetarian Flexibility: In some regions (e.g., Tamil Nadu), a vegetarian Devanga girl can marry into a non-vegetarian family, adopting their dietary habits post-marriage, especially after puberty.
• Who Cannot Marry Whom:
  • Same Gotra: Marriage within the same gotra (e.g., two Koundinya Devangas) is strictly prohibited, following Hindu exogamy rules to avoid perceived familial ties.
  • Same Sect (Historically): In older traditions, two Shaivites or two Vaishnavites couldn’t marry, though this restriction has largely faded with secularization.